How do I place a market trade or limit order online?
Once logged into your account click Place a trade.
You will be presented with our Place an Order screen. This is where you enter the details of the trade you wish to make.
What does it all mean?
- Account Number - This is the account you are going to place a trade on. If you have a linked account ensure that you have selected the account you wish to use.
- Personal Trading Level - This is the amount you currently have available to spend on your account. When you enter your stock information you will also be provided with the amount you can spend in that particular stock.
- Market Use - this to select the country of the Stock Market you wish to trade on. The drop down menu provides a list of all the markets we can trade online. You can also select UK Bonds or UK Funds from this menu for trading these types of investment.
- Stock Symbol - Here you enter the abbreviated code for the stock you wish to trade. If you do not know the symbol use the Lookup button to search for the stock you wish to trade.
- Transaction Type - Are you buying or selling? Choose from the drop down menu
- Settlement Period - The settlement period is the number of days before the transaction is completed. For more information about settlement periods see the FAQ case linked at the foot of this page.
- Shares or Investment Amount - This lets you choose between buying a number of shares or a total value of the trade. For example you could buy 1000 shares in a stock or invest £1000 and buy as many shares as this amount would allow.
- Order Type - Select the type of trade you wish to place. Either Market, Limit, “Fill or Kill” or Stop Loss. The question mark displayed next to this section of the place a trade screen provides detailed information on each order type alternatively click here.
- Price (pence) & Duration - This is only displayed if Fill or Kill, Limit or Stop Loss order types are selected. This lets you set the price you wish to trade at and how long you would like to leave your limit on our system.
- Settlement Currency - This is the currency your trade will be completed in. If you are buying you will need to ensure that your account is funded with that currency on or before the settlement date (remember if you need to make a currency conversion using our website this takes 2 days). When selling you will receive the proceeds of your sale in the currency selected here.
- Dealing Password - Enter the characters from your dealing password (if enabled). Dealing passwords are between 8 and 12 characters long and are case sensitive.
If you do not have a dealing password please call our Customer Services Team on 0808 156 6000. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday between 07:30 and 21:00 or Saturday between 09:00 and 15:00.
Now you are ready to submit your order.
What Happens Next
If you have selected a Market trade we will try and obtain a price for your trade from the market. If a price is available we will show you what the market is offering for your trade and you will have 15 seconds to confirm the order.
If we are not able to obtain a quote you will be asked if you would like to try to obtain another quote, or send your trade for us to deal manually with the market. Please carefully read the on-screen notes before proceeding with this type of trade.
If you have placed one of the other order types, you will be shown an overview of your trade. Check the details before submitting the trade. We will then attempt to place your trade in accordance with the instructions you have left.
For more information about how we place your limit trades please see the FAQ "I’ve just placed a limit order, what happens next?" Linked at the foot of this page.
View our trading demo to see how to place trades and limit orders online.
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